Full Citation

Title: Ironing Out Deficiencies: Evidence from the United States on the Economic Effects of Iron Deficiency

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2011

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: Iron deficiency reduces productive capacity in adults and impairs cognitive development in children, causing worldwide losses that reach into the billions of dollars. In 1943, the United States government issued War Food Order No. 1, which required the fortification of bread and flour with iron to reduce iron deficiency in the working age population during World War II. This universal fortification of grain products increased per capita consumption of iron by 32 percent. I use the exogenous timing of the federal law and the Study of Consumer Purchases in the United States 1935-1936 to measure the economic effects of the fortification program. Areas with lower levels of iron consumption prior to the mandate experienced greater increases in wages and school attendancebetween 1940 and 1950. A long-term follow up suggests adults in 1970 with more exposure to fortification during childhood received higher wages, more years of schooling, and were less likely to live in poverty.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Niemesh, Gregory

Conference Name: Population Association of America

Publisher Location: Washington, D.C.

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Health

Countries: